Wheels - MARIN Bicycle Owner's Manual

Chapter 4: Tech
It's important to your safety, performance and enjoyment to understand
how things work on your bicycle. We urge you to ask your dealer how to do
the things described in this section before you attempt them yourself, and
that you have your dealer check your work before you ride the bike. If you
have even the slightest doubt as to whether you understand something in
this section of the Manual, talk to your dealer. See also Appendix A, B, C
and D.
A. Wheels
Bicycle wheels are designed to be removable for easier transportation and
for repair of a tire puncture. In most cases, the wheel axles are inserted
into slots, called "dropouts" in the fork and frame, but some suspension
mountain bikes use what is called a "through axle" wheel mounting system.
If you have a mountain bike equipped with through axle front or rear
wheels, make sure that your dealer has given you the manufacturer's
instructions, and follow those when installing or removing a through axle
wheel. If you don't know what a through axle is, ask your dealer.
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Wheels are secured in one of three ways:
• A hollow axle with a shaft ("skewer") running through it which has an
adjustable tension nut on one end and an over-center cam on the other
(cam action system, fig.8 a & b)
•A hollow axle with a shaft ("skewer") running through it which has a nut on
one end and a fitting for a hex key, lock lever or other tightening device on
the other (through bolt, fig. 9)
• Hex nuts or hex key bolts which are threaded on to or into the hub axle
(bolt-on wheel, fig. 10)
Your bicycle may be equipped with a different securing method for the front
wheel than for the rear wheel. Discuss the wheel securing method for your
bicycle with your dealer.
It is very important that you understand the type of wheel securing method
on your bicycle, that you know how to secure the wheels correctly, and
that you know how to apply the correct clamping force that safely secures
the wheel. Ask your dealer to instruct you in correct wheel removal
and installation, and ask him to give you any available manufacturer's
instructions.
WARNING: Riding with an improperly secured wheel can allow
the wheel to wobble or fall off the bicycle, which can cause
serious injury or death. Therefore, it is essential that you:
1. Ask your dealer to help you make sure you know how to
install and remove your wheels safely.
2. Understand and apply the correct technique for clamping
your wheel in place.
3. Each time, before you ride the bike, check that the wheel is
securely clamped.
The clamping action of a correctly secured wheel must emboss
the surfaces of the dropouts.
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